Antibacterial silver-doped bioactive silica gel production using molten salt method

Due to broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity, silver nanoparticles have great application potential in disinfection of contaminated water. The aim of this research was the introduction of a fast and simple method titled as ‘‘molten salt method’’ for the production of silverdoped bioactive silica gel (SG) nanocomposite. In this method, SG was imposed into the molten salt of silver nitrate at 150 and 300 C for various times. Interestingly, molten salt method was not utilized any reducing reagent or other chemicals unless molten silver nitrate. The synthesis and fixing of nanoparticles into the support were done in\60 min. The prepared silver/SG nanocomposite was evaluated using scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence, leaching test and antibacterial test. SEM images showed that the contact of SG with the molten salt caused the formation of nanoparticles on the SG. On the other hand, increasing the contact time, it led to a larger and increased number of particles. The antibacterial tests demonstrated that this composite is suitable for using as antibacterial material. The test of elution with water indicated that the prepared nanocomposite is stable and the amount of the released silver in the water was negligible.